MORT and REM, like other REIT assets become more attractive when yields on other fixed-income assets are pushed down. On the bright side for REM and its investors is the fact that the ETF’s dividend is expected to rise for the first time since 2014.
Related: 44 Best REITs ETFs to Generate Yields
When Treasury yields surged two years ago, MORT posted a gain of just 1.1% while REM slid 2.7%, underscoring the inverse relationship these ETFs have to Treasury yields. Conventional wisdom dictates that higher interest rates diminish the chances that homeowners will refinance their mortgage rates. Additionally, many mortgage REITs did not anticipate the sharp spike in interest rates and the result was a rash of dividend cuts from REM and MORT holdings.
“Yet the group is still 17% below its price level of two years ago and trades near a 15% discount to book value per share. Most strikingly, these REITs boast dividend yields of 12%, on average,” according to Barron’s.
iShares Mortgage Real Estate Capped ETF
